Comrade Rama Gairola
It is with deep sorrow and shock that we learnt of the untimely death of Comrade Rama Gairola at the prime of her life and revolutionary political journey at the very young age of 30. She was a CPI(ML) State Committee member and AIPWA Joint Secretary in Uttar Pradesh. She was admitted in Jatpura local hospital in the night of 1-2 November after a heavy bout of fever. Doctors assured that she will improve in a couple of days, but the fever persisted and on 4th November she was taken to Puranpur hospital and then to the Pilibhit district hospital. The next day her condition deteriorated suddenly in the evening and doctors referred her to the hospital in Bareilly but she passed away around 10.30 PM within ten minutes of reaching the Bareilly hospital.
Dengue has spread in epidemic proportions in Puranpur where the CPI(ML) party office is located. Comrade Rama was involved in helping dengue patients in her locality, when she herself contracted the disease.
The fact that she was diagnosed with dengue – a curable disease – on time and yet her life could not be saved is a comment on the state of health services in rural India.
Comrade Rama was very much liked by the workers, peasants, and women amongst whom she worked. She had been a model elected member of the Zila Panchayat – a post she won with a record margin in 2010 after an election campaign conducted on her own, without any money power, on foot from village to village. She fought against the custodial killing of a dalit youth Rampal while contesting this election. Inside the Zila Panchayat she was a voice for the struggles of people, raising her voice against rampant corruption in different development schemes. She won hearts all through the five years of her tenure. When the Zila Panchayat illegally sanctioned construction of shops on the hospital land it was her struggle that forced the authorities to stop the construction. She joined peasants in the struggle against inclusion of 95 villages of Pilibhit under the Tiger Project, leading thousands in the gherao of central minister Maneka Gandhi’s office in Pilibhit which is the latter’s parliamentary constituency.
She was one of those comrades who are always available to the people in their need and always ready to take whatever initiative is required in order to resolve various issues.
She had rejected an award from the UP State Government in protest against violence on women and Mulayam Singh’s rape culture ‘boys are boys, they can make a mistake’ remark.
She had begun organising ASHA and Anganwadi workers and had worked hard during their protest and chakka jam – road blockade – recently held in the state capital Lucknow. Her wish to organise this important contingent of workers and women in an effective state level organisation remained unfulfilled.
Comrade Ram Gairola was a promising young activist of AIPWA and CPI(ML) Liberation in Pilibhit and rural Western Uttar Pradesh. She emerged as a leading voice of left in the region within a brief time span of just 6 years. She left indelible imprints of her work and service to the people that no one can forget.
She lived the life of a revolutionary, and became a fulltime activist. She had to fight personal battles against patriarchal restrictions in her own home, and chose her life companion braving heavy opposition from parents.
We are committed to carrying forward Comrade Rama Gairola’s struggles.
Com. Ramjeet Bediya
Com. Ramjeet Bediya, a resident of village Padariya (Chumba Panchayat) in Mandu block of Ramgarh district, Jharkhand, passed away on 30 October 2016 from heart failure while undergoing treatment at RIMS in Ranchi. He was 55 years old and left behind his wife, four daughters and a son.
Com. Ramjeet joined the party in 1988 and had been an active member ever since. He played an active role in the party’s struggles against feudal oppression, moneylenders’ oppression and police repression as well as in the struggles on the issues of employment and wages.
His funeral procession was accompanied by party leaders, activists, and villagers in large numbers, including CPI(ML) district Secretary Bhuneshwar Bediya, Mandu block committee members Laka Bediya, Ramvriksh Bediya, Prayag Bediya. A two minute silent tribute was paid and condolences expressed to his family members before the last rites, and it was resolved to carry forward his work and fulfill his dreams.
Com. Deviram Besra
The untimely demise of Com. Deviram Besra, aged 47, occurred recently in Jobla village, Mandu block, Ramgarh district in Jharkhand. He had become a member of the CPI(ML) in 1986. He had played an active role in the party’s struggles against feudal oppression and for restoration of land to the poor. He had participated in the movements against police repression and for ending pay-loader system to give opportunities to the unemployed. He also participated in movements outside Jharkhand and campaigned for elections in Purnea (Bihar).
Com. Ghanshyam Mahto
Spirited and dedicated kisan leader of the nineties Com. Ghanshyam Mahto passed away in his paternal village Bundu in Baruhathu. He was 76 years old. He joined the CPI(ML) in 1990 and worked ceaselessly for the poor and adivasis. In spite of financial constraints, he never looked back or wavered. On the day of his demise, despite ill health, he attended the Sankalp Sabha on the martyrdom day of Parmeshwar Singh Munda. He leaves behind three daughters and two sons.
Red Salute to all departed Comrades !
